Seven shot dead, three injured in alleged extortion-linked attack in Cape Town

Seven people were killed and three others wounded in a suspected extortion-linked mass shooting in Marikana near Cape Town, with police launching a manhunt for the gunmen

What Sri Lankans Can Watch This Weekend in Sport

Sri Lankan sports fans are set for another packed weekend, with major football clashes in the Premier League, key matches at the ICC Men’s Under-19 World Cup, and the start of the Australian Open tennis tournament. From evening kick-offs to daytime cricket and early tennis action, there is plenty on offer across different sports.

Hajj Committee under pressure: Fresh legal blow

The All Ceylon Hajj Tour Operators Association (ACHTOA) has filed a writ application (CA/Writ 007/2026) before the Court of Appeal on 2nd of January 2026, challenging decisions of the newly appointed Hajj Committee for allegedly deviating from the Hajj Guidelines approved by the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka.

Special exposition of Sacred Relics of Buddha at Gangaramaya Temple

A special exposition of the Sacred Relics of the Buddha, brought from India, will be held at the Gangaramaya Temple from February 4 to February 11, Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs Sunil Senevi said.

Lowest temperature of 8°C reported from Nuwara Eliya

The lowest temperature in Sri Lanka today (17) was recorded at the Nuwara Eliya Meteorological Station, where temperatures dropped to 8.0 degrees Celsius, the Department of Meteorology said.

Sri Lanka Railways to resume key train services after Cyclone Ditwah

Sri Lanka Railways has announced the resumption of several train services that were suspended due to Cyclone Ditwah, including the Night Mail trains to Trincomalee and Batticaloa.

ChatGPT to carry adverts for some users

Adverts will soon appear at the top of the AI tool ChatGPT for some users, the company OpenAI has announced.

Weerawansa accuses authorities of bias in Kassapa Thera arrest

Former Member of Parliament Wimal Weerawansa yesterday alleged that Venerable Balangoda Kassapa Thera was arrested without equal enforcement of the law and claimed that Coastal Conservation Officers were being compelled to act unfairly.

Former Speaker MP Asoka Ranwala’s wife injured in car accident

Former Speaker and MP Asoka Ranwala’s wife has been hospitalised following a car accident that occurred last night (16) near their residence, police said.

Sri Lanka Tourism sees positive start in 2026 with over 131,000 arrivals

The Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) said that a total of 131,898 tourists have arrived in the country during the first 15 days of 2026.

NBRO seeks to partner with Australian Bureau of Meteorology to enhance landslide warnings

The National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) held discussions with the Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) to establish a collaborative partnership to strengthen rainfall forecasting capabilities, specifically for Landslide Early Warning Systems.

Absence of an Auditor General hampers parliamentary oversight: Opposition

Opposition MP Dayasiri Jayasekara warned that the continued absence of an Auditor General has become a serious issue, further complicating parliamentary oversight. He noted that with the expiry of the civil society members’ terms, key parliamentary oversight bodies such as the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) and the Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) are effectively unable to function.

Sri Lanka face Japan in opening Under-19 World Cup match

Sri Lanka will play their first match of the ICC Under-19 World Cup, co-hosted by Zimbabwe and Namibia, against Japan today (17).

Zimbabwe appoint Windies great as consultant before T20WC 2026

West Indies veteran Courtney Walsh joins Zimbabwe as bowling consultant ahead of ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.

Iran will continue buying Sri Lankan tea despite U.S. tariff warning: Ambassador

In response to a question about the possible impact of any additional 25 per cent tariffs by the U.S. on countries trading with Iran, Iranian Ambassador in Sri Lanka Dr Alireza Delkhosh said that the bilateral ties are strong enough withstand such warnings.

Inmates involved in unrest at Boossa Prison to be transferred

The Department of Prisons said that inmates who caused unrest at the Boossa High-Security Prison will be transferred to other prison facilities.

Blair and Rubio among names on Gaza ’Board of Peace’

The Trump administration has named US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and former UK prime minister Sir Tony Blair as two of the founding members of its ’’Board of Peace’’ for Gaza.

Parents hold silent protest against postponement of grade 6 education reforms

A silent protest was held yesterday in front of the Ministry of Education yesterday morning opposing the decision to postpone the education reforms related to Grade 6 until 2027.

Trump threatens new tariffs on countries opposed to Greenland takeover

US President Donald Trump has threatened to place tariffs on nations that do not go along with his ambitions to annex Greenland.

One killed, two children injured in Jinthupitiya shooting

Police say the fatal shooting reported in the Jinthupitiya area of Colombo last night was the result of a clash between two underworld gangs.

Local aluminium fabricators warn BOI policy gaps threaten local industry

Sri Lanka’s aluminium door, window and façade fabrication industry is being undercut by policy gaps that allow finished products to be imported duty-free, threatening jobs, foreign exchange savings and domestic manufacturing capacity, an industry body said.

Binance Research: Crypto crosses US $ 4tn in 2025 as market prepares for institutional-led expansion in 2026

Binance Research has released its Full-Year 2025 and Themes for 2026 report, detailing a year of historic milestones for the global crypto market alongside heightened volatility driven by macroeconomic forces.

Unrest reported at Boossa Prison

A tense situation that erupted at the Boossa Prison today (January 16) was brought under control by prison authorities, officials said.

Group of Peradeniya uni students assaulted

A group of students of the Veterinary Medical Faculty of Peradeniya University had been injured, one of them seriously, when they came under assault during an altercation with the residents of the area

Uganda’s president leads in tense election marred by internet shutdown

Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni, who has ruled the country for 40 years, had an early lead Friday in a tense presidential election marred by an internet shutdown, voting delays and opposition allegations of “massive ballot stuffing” and detentions by security forces.

Warrants issued on ex prison hospital Deputy Director

Colombo Additional Magistrate Oshadha Migara Mahaarachchi issued warrants for the arrest and production before court of a former Acting Deputy Director of the Prison Hospital and a former Deputy Director of the National Institute of Mental Health, Angoda.

Government to ensure justice for grade 6 students: Harini

The government will move swiftly to ensure justice for Grade 6 students impacted by the postponement of education reforms, Prime Minister and Education Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya said today.

Dry conditions prevail as frost risk looms in Nuwara Eliya

Issuing the weather forecast for the next 36 hours, the Department of Meteorology said today that mainly dry weather will prevail across most parts of the country.

Rupee weakens further against US Dollar

The Sri Lankan Rupee depreciated further against the US Dollar today (16), compared to Wednesday, official Central Bank data showed.

South Korea’s ex-president Yoon given 5-year jail term in first ruling over martial law

A South Korean court on Friday sentenced former President Yoon Suk Yeol to five years in prison on charges that included obstructing attempts by authorities to arrest him following his failed bid to impose martial law in December 2024.